Recently, the United States and the European Union held dialogues on China-related issues and the Indo-Pacific Consultations, issuing a joint statement urging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exercise restraint in the surrounding areas of Taiwan. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that Taiwan, as a responsible democratic member in the Indo-Pacific region, is willing to uphold the rules-based international order.
The Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Stefano Sannino, and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell co-chaired the “Seventh U.S.-China High-Level Dialogue” and the “Sixth Indo-Pacific High-Level Consultations” on the 9th and 10th, respectively. On the 11th, they issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, calling it indispensable for international security and stability.
The joint statement from the United States and Europe called for the resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue and peaceful means, opposing any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through the use of force or coercion. They also urged the CCP to exercise restraint in the Taiwan Strait and the surrounding areas of Taiwan. The U.S. and Europe also expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that with regard to security in the Indo-Pacific, the United States and Europe are deeply concerned about recent tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea. They reiterated their opposition to actions that endanger the safety of maritime operations and violate freedom of navigation, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding peace, stability, and international law in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that the U.S. and Europe have been regularly convening high-level dialogues on China-related issues since 2021. They have consistently reiterated their high regard for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in their post-meeting joint statements, demonstrating that safeguarding the security of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region is a consensus among democratic countries like the U.S. and Europe.
The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that, in the face of a critical moment where authoritarian states collude and openly challenge the international order, Taiwan, as a responsible democratic member in the Indo-Pacific region, is willing to work with like-minded partners such as the U.S. and Europe to jointly uphold the rules-based international order. Taiwan remains steadfast in defending global democratic, free, and human rights values.